Free Dismantling Evan by Venessa Kimball Page B

only smiles and waits for my answer.
    “Senior,” I say and take my turn at finding out what year he is in college. He has to be in college. “You?”
    “Senior.”
    No way he’s a senior in college! “In high school?” I clarify.
    He nods.
    The way he carries himself, the way his body looks, the way he talks with confidence and maturity, I was sure he was in college. But, now that I know he isn’t and he is my age... I nod and look away to hide the giddy smile pulling at my lips. Brody Ferguson isn’t completely out of reach on the age scale, even if he is out of reach on the good looks scale. Quickly, I think of something else to ask. “What about Gavin? What year is he?”
    “Sophomore,” Brody says.
    “Cool.” I say evenly, then think back to Gavin reciting Hamlet earlier today. “Is he like in advanced classes or something?” I ask and Brody looks at me oddly.
    “What do you mean?”
    “Well he was reciting Hamlet this morning. Then the girl across the street...”
    “Nikki,” he adds.
    “Yeah. So she told me...”
    He cuts me off. “She talked to you?”
    His question seems displaced, but I respond anyway. “Yeah. She said he always recited Shakespeare or The Lord of the Rings books.”
    Seeming to think about Gavin reciting, Brody grins and says, “Yeah, those are his favorites. He is just...”
    Brody’s grin falters a little as he seems to focus on what he is going to say next. “He is just different, Evan.”
    Yeah, Gavin is different. He fascinates me, not in an ogling a caged-animal kind of way, but the kind of fascination that makes me want to know more about him. It is what I felt when I watched Gavin earlier and it is what I feel now as he stands out in the darkened yard, walking wide circles in the grass, listening to...
    “What is he listening to?” I ask
    Brody eyes me then Gavin. “Hendrix. He likes Jimmy and the Beatles.”
    Two of my favorites. “Cool.”
    Surprisingly, Gavin rushes to the porch, pulls the earbuds from his ears, and asks, “Do you like Shakespeare?”
    I am a little taken aback by the forcefulness of his question, like it is something of great importance and he must know now!
    “Uh, yeah. I haven’t read Hamlet though,” I say.
    He stares at me blankly.
    Feeling the need to fill the emptiness between us I add, “I have read the Lord of the Rings.”
    His eyes instantly light up and he lets out a cackling laugh. “She’s a smart one, Brody!”
    Brody smiles. “Yep, Gav, she is smart.”
    All of a sudden, Gavin yawns and walks toward the porch door. He doesn’t say anything. He just goes inside, shuts off the porch light, and leaves Brody and I sitting there in the dark. As my eyes adjust, Brody’s silhouette comes into view.
    “Uh, good night Gav,” he says with a chuckle.
    I laugh too, at the absurdity of Gavin leaving us out there in the dark.
    “Well, I better be going,” I say, rising from the chair.
    “Sorry about that,” he says, uneasily.
    I don’t want him feeling bad about Gavin’s behavior. “There is nothing to be sorry about,” I say, shrugging my shoulders. “Thank you for explaining what happened earlier when we first met and everything,”
    His face is invisible and I can’t see his expression when he says, “Thanks for coming over and listening. Most people would be freaked out.”
    If he only knew I’m not most people and I have been the freak. He won’t know that though.
    “I’m not most people, Brody,” I say just as I turn to leave.
    “Watch your step off the porch,” he tells me.
    I smile lightly as I step down. I guess Brody’s tenderness does reach beyond his brother.
    I say, Good night, once more before I slip through the Fergusons’ gate then ours, and back into my house undetected. I crawl into bed, feeling the tiredness settle into my body and knowing the insomnia will not win tonight.

 
     
     
     
     
    THE AROMA OF FRYING BACON, mixed with freshly brewing coffee, wake me. Mom and Dad’s muffled